The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-06-25


 walls of the mairle of their proper ar- or district, in Paris, the names of Charles Louis Napoleon and Marie de GuZman, Countess of Teba, followed by the birth dates of the high contracting parties, Ma poleon III figuring as having been born "April 20, 1808," and Eugenie as having come into this world "May 5, 1S26." Some of the naughty French who hated the Napoleonic dynasty in general and Charles Louis Napoleon ill particular, had no respect for the delicate feelings of a woman ill the matter of her age, went down to Grenada, where the countess of Teba was born, ransacked the musty old records and affirmed that they found in the parish register (which is legal as well as religious book in Spain) that the said Countess Eugenie was born on "May 5, 1923" This would make the lady sixty-fou years of age at this present writing
 We'll, whether her age is sixty-onc or sixty-four, repeat it that she cer- tainly has wonderfully improved dur ing her sojourn in Naples, as everyone will testify who saw her promenading the Toledo on Good Friday, making the accustomed round of the churches, at this season so sacred to Romanists. When the file of pious paraders and lookers-on was at it's height, buzz of exclamation and of admiration ran up and down the street to the effect that the Empress Eugenie was making the struscto, as the promenading for piety and display is called here. But to show you how leading Neapoli- tan journal can do the Jenkins busi- ness let me translate literally from the CoyFiere del Jfdttino of the next morning: "The crowd was elegantis- sima as it marched and counter marched on the Toledo. When the most legitimate and highest in her aldry of the aristocratic world, whether Neapolitan or foreign, prom enaded in exceeding beauty and black robes, then came the ex-Empress Flu genie, exciting far and wide not only curiosity, but admiration. The ex- sovereign preserves well the most del- icate traits of her features, which rem der her age a matter of mystification. Tall, slender, and yet with a superb form, you comprehend in her the great lady, and are the first to recognize the fact. Her vivacious and sparkling eyes justify their former fascination. Her complexion, still rosy, shows a wonderful freshness, which perhaps is due to our climate, and has recalled the delicate carnation of her early beauty. The hair, which has not yet decided to turn white, has the most apparent traces of a traces of a golden blonde"
 It has occurred to me that an eye witness, from the southern Italian standpoint, of the personal appearance of her eX-imperial majesty might in- terest your readers. But the Neapol- itan Jenkins might have told more which would have won your readers of the gentler sex. 1 may add on my own account that the former empress was clad in the deepest mourning, and although she held q small umbrella in her left hand she did not relinquish her ebony walking stick which she swung in her right hand, and I must admit that she did not use her cane for other than ornamental purposes. She moved along with the unaffected stateliness which legitimately results from respectfully low -heeled chdus- sure, high heels being now relegated to the vulgar and the snobbish. Eu- genie was accompanied by the Count and Countess of Catabellotta, by her faithful secretary, the Chevalier Pie tri, and by Mime. Le Breton. And, as l have already stated, the appear ance of the ex-empress called forth great attention from the elegant world of fashion which filled one of the gay . est streets of southern Europe.
 Yet this apparition at such a time in Naples has filled my mind with many reflections, and has called up a host of souvenirs. The first time that ever saw this woman, once the most powerful in the world of fashion and of politics too, was in May, 1856, when her husband was at the very height of his prosperity, and when he was not only monarch of personal beauty, grace and of vast influence, but was the proud mother of sweet blue eyed babe. On the occasion referred to she was seated by her husband. No one would have dreamed as her car- riage moved slowly up the Champs Elysees, while she was lowing to the thousands on that great highway, that the greatest of calamities in the future were to fall on her both as wife and mother.
 During the same month in 1856, when the moon was shining at the full, I saw the imperial carriage es- corted by cavalry rushing rapidly aver ihn Hia...a .da ia Concoxda nNh ;s